“My No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series deals with crime although my books never involve any serious crimes. But it’s a broad church and there is a place for all of it.”

Bloody Scotland each year attracts some of the biggest names in crime fiction to Stirling and this year’s festival is expected to be the biggest yet, with an international line-up from 14 countries.

The gala opening will take place on 21 September, when the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year will be presented.

Mina and McDermid will then lead a torchlit procession through the city, followed by a performance from the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers – a group of crime writer musicians including Doug Johnstone, Mark Billingham, Brookmyre and McDermid.